Here’s a rundown of the major causes of heart valve disease:

• Coronary artery disease or a heart attack can cause heart valve damage

• High blood pressure, which puts strain on the heart and its valves

• Congenital defects, which are heart valve abnormalities that occur before birth

• Infections such as rheumatic heart disease, which developed from strep infections. These used to be the major cause of heart valve problems. A rare, but serious infection called infective endocarditis can also damage heart valves

• Aging is still one of the greatest causes of heart valve problems

There are other rare causes of heart valve disease, including autoimmune diseases, such as lupus; radiation to the chest; and certain metabolic disorders, such as Fabry disease, which is a genetic disorder that leads to the buildup of a certain type of blood fat. High cholesterol can also affect heart valves.